Oak Ridge Today

ORISE, Rotary Club plan to package 20,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger

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More than 100 volunteers from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge will package 20,000 nutritious meals for Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization, in a few hours on Thursday, March 8.

The event is marking the expansion of a warehouse on ORISE’s south campus by helping feed people around the world.

“Volunteers will follow an assembly-line process to package highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, and 23 essential vitamins and minerals,” a media alert said. “Rise Against Hunger will distribute the meals primarily to school feeding programs in developing countries around the world.”

ORISE is managed by ORAU, a nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Richard Cook to speak at Friends of Library annual meeting on Sunday

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Richard Cook (Submitted photo)

Richard Cook (Submitted photo)

 

The annual meeting of the Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library (FOL) will be held Sunday, and the guest speaker will be Richard Cook, author of “Ignored Heroes of World War II: The Manhattan Project Workers of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.”

The meeting is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4, in the Oak Ridge Public Library auditorium. There is no charge. Everyone is invited to attend, a press release said. New board members will be elected during the meeting.

Cook, who has lived in Oak Ridge since 2000, said his work is an oral history of Oak Ridge, the press release said. His wife, Katy (Orrick), was born and raised in Oak Ridge.

Cook wrote an op/ed column for The Oak Ridger from 2003-2005, the press release said. He has written more than 130 op/ed columns, which have appeared in The Oak Ridger, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, and The Tennessean website, the release said. His book has been profiled locally on WBIR, WATE, and PBS. [Read more…]

Borchers to give update on school system & changes on Tuesday

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Oak-Ridge-Schools-Bruce-Borchers-March-28-2016

Bruce Borchers

 

Bruce Borchers, superintendent of Oak Ridge Schools, will discuss the state of the Oak Ridge school system during a lunchtime talk on Tuesday.

His presentation is expected to provide an update on the school system and changes that have been implemented since his last address to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The Lunch with the League meeting is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Borchers has served as Oak Ridge Schools superintendent since 2013, the press release said. He began his career as an elementary physical education teacher in Sioux City, Iowa. He later worked as an assistant principal and principal in Iowa City and Mankato, Minnesota, and as an associate superintendent of secondary schools for the Anoka-Hennepin, Minnesota, school district, the release said. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he was superintendent of the Rockwood (Missouri) School District. [Read more…]

Y-12, Pantex donate $1.1 million to local United Way campaigns

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The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

United Way contributions at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge totaled about $1.1 million.

The contributions were announced last week by Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, the contractor that manages and operates the two sites. Contributions from employees, retirees, and the corporation were gathered during the sites’ recent campaigns, CNS said in a press release.

Corporate gifts of $150,000 also added to the total, CNS said. Funds also were raised through special events, such as silent auctions, and the sales of jewelry, books, and food items. This year, both sites’ employees added to their United Way activities by raising funds and supplies for local veteran resource centers, the press release said. [Read more…]

Prevention of child abuse to be discussed during Tuesday lunch

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Susan Moore

Susan Moore

The speaker featured at Lunch with the League on Tuesday will discussion the prevention of child abuse in Oak Ridge and Anderson County.

The speaker will be Susan Moore, regional program manager of Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Moore’s educational background is in business administration and elementary education, a press release said. For the past 20 years, she has been involved in education and children’s issues, and she has served as East Tennessee programs manager for Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee for five years. She is interested in the effects of childhood trauma on brain development, and in making “our community and the greater East Tennessee region more trauma informed,” the release said. [Read more…]

Little River Band will headline Secret City Festival concert in June

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Secret City Festival Logo Web

The Little River Band will headline the Secret City Festival concert on Friday night, June 8, organizers said Monday.

The headliner was announced during the Oak Ridge City Council meeting.

The Little River Band had multi-platinum albums in the 1970s and 1980s and chart-topping hits that included “Reminiscing,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy on Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “We Two,” “Man on Your Mind,” “The Other Guy,” and “It’s a Long Way There,” according to its website. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Father-Daughter Hike this month

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Arboretum Society)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Arboretum Society)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, February 17, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. The hike is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

In 2018, the UT Arboretum Society is offering a monthly hike on the third Saturday of each month. For the ninth year, the Arboretum is showcasing the February hike as the Father-Daughter Hike, but everyone, regardless of age, is welcome on this hike, a press release said.

“We encourage grandfathers to bring their granddaughters, uncles to bring their nieces, older brothers to bring their young sisters, etc.,” the press release said. “This is a great winter occasion to spend some quality time outdoors and to learn about the UT Arboretum’s trails. We’re all tired of the cold weather, so why not come out an enjoy some exercise?”

This is a short trail hike (one to 1.5 hours), the press release said. [Read more…]

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Dine & Donate

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Friends from First Presbyterian Church recently gathered to support ADFAC’s Dine & Donate event by eating at Dean’s. Both First Presbyterian and Dean’s have been loyal supporters of ADFAC for years! (Submitted photo)

Friends from First Presbyterian Church recently gathered to support ADFAC’s Dine & Donate event by eating at Dean’s. Both First Presbyterian and Dean’s have been loyal supporters of ADFAC for years! (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, February 12, thirteen local restaurants will “share the love” by donating a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“ADFAC’s February Dine & Donate event provides an early opportunity to treat loved ones to a special meal, all while supporting ADFAC’s charitable work and community restaurants,” a press release said.

Participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Spaghetti lunch on Sunday to raise money for Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

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Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon Feb 11 2018

An all-you-can-eat homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon on Sunday will benefit Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence.

The luncheon is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, February 11, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The community is invited. Proceeds will benefit the Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, a press release said.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under. The all-you-can-eat meal includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, dessert, and a beverage. Take out will be available, the press release said. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling (865) 294-4133. [Read more…]

2018 Anderson County Ally of the Year announced

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2018 Anderson County Ally of the Year Pastor Wayne Phillips (Submitted photo)

2018 Anderson County Ally of the Year Pastor Wayne Phillips (Submitted photo)

Pastor Wayne Phillips and Main Street Baptist Church have been named 2018 Anderson County Ally of the Year by ASAP of Anderson County.

The Anderson County Ally of the Year Campaign has two goals. One is to increase awareness of the prevention efforts of ASAP of Anderson County, and the second is to raise funds to continue those efforts. In 2018, both goals were accomplished, a press release said.

Candidates Harold Edwards, Leslie England, Stanton Martin, Pastor Wayne Phillips, and Chief James Shetterly were nominated by community members to run for the title, the press release said. Each candidate conducted their own campaign, but they were united by the same goals. In the end, Phillips and Main Street Baptist Church took home the title.

Phillips and his wife have been involved throughout the year through activities such as hosting a participating in listening sessions around Anderson County with Mayor Terry Frank to discuss the current problems of drug misuse in the county and solutions to decrease these problems, the press release said. [Read more…]

Asher of United Way to discuss community needs, issues, opportunities on Monday

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Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher will give the Monday, February 5, presentation at 11 a.m. to the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge, to be held at the Jewish Congregation at 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge. The public is invited to learn and bring their questions, a press release said.

She will speak about how the United Way of Anderson County improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good, the press release said. The organization focuses on youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services, all building blocks for a good life and strong community.

Asher, executive director of the United Way of Anderson County since May 2015, has lived in Oak Ridge since 1992, graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 2001, and returned to Oak Ridge in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree from Johnson University. She earned an MBA in marketing from King University in 2012, and left the executive director’s position with CASA for United Way. [Read more…]

Atomic Heritage Foundation launches new audio, visual program on Oak Ridge

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Bill Wilcox 90th Birthday Party

Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox, who died in 2013, was a longtime advocate for preserving the city’s history, including parts of its federal facilities. Wilcox is pictured above at his 90th birthday party in the spring of 2013.

 

Submitted

“There was construction going on everywhere you looked,” Bill Wilcox remembered, describing his first impressions of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “Trucks and people just crawling all over the place, hammers and banging. Wooden structures going up everywhere. Nothing was paved, and there weren’t any sidewalks.”

Wilcox was one of the thousands of people who moved to the new “Secret City” of Oak Ridge to work on the Manhattan Project, the top-secret World War II effort to develop an atomic bomb.

The Atomic Heritage Foundation has launched a new online interpretive program on Oak Ridge with 16 audio/visual vignettes. This beta program is part of AHF’s “Ranger in Your Pocket” series on the Manhattan Project, which focuses on former Manhattan Project sites and features vignettes with eyewitness accounts and expert commentary. AHF welcomes feedback and will improve and expand upon the program over the next year, a press release said.

In September 1942, Manhattan Project director General Leslie Groves designated “Site X,” approximately 59,000 acres of land on the Clinch River in rural eastern Tennessee, as the site for the project’s uranium production facilities. Approximately 3,000 people living in the area in five small farming communities were forced to leave their homes and land with minimal compensation. Construction of a new city began at breakneck speed. By the end of World War II, some 75,000 people would call Oak Ridge home, making it the fifth-largest city in Tennessee. [Read more…]